SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT: Keys to Achieving it.

Having spiritual discernment is vitally important. Let’s look at seven keys for developing spiritual discernment.

 

Key No.1: Recognize that there are spiritual absolutes.

 

We must recognize that there are spiritual absolutes. This is fundamental for developing spiritual discernment. Absolutes are required in almost every walk of life, but when it comes to God’s laws and morality, many people want to decide for themselves what is right and wrong. They refuse to acknowledge that God has authority over our lives and that He gives us specific instructions that we are to always follow, regardless of the circumstances.

The truth is, with God there are also absolutes. The Bible clearly reveals what God expects His followers to do. Disobeying what God says to do is sin. Discernment means identifying opposites or contrasts such as clean/unclean, good/evil, right/wrong and obedience/disobedience.  

Having spiritual discernment requires us to make judgments. It is no surprise that people who don’t acknowledge God’s authority to set standards of conduct hate being judged. They don’t like anyone saying, or even quietly believing, that their conduct is wrong.

This sentiment was present in the men of Sodom as they accused Lot of “acting as a judge” when he tried to dissuade them of their ungodly intentions toward his visitors (Genesis 19:9). People today who reject God’s laws similarly accuse people of judging them if their ungodly deeds are not accepted and celebrated.

In today’s environment that is hostile toward God’s good and beneficial laws, many people cite Christ’s statement: “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). People who reject most of the Bible’s teachings sometimes cite this verse. And sometimes even people claiming to be Christians misunderstand what Christ was saying.

A careful reading of Matthew 7:1-3 reveals that Jesus was teaching His followers not to judge in a hypocritical manner. The principle He was teaching was that we need to first resolve our own faults before we try to help our brother resolve his. If we weren’t to judge at all, we couldn’t help our brother.

On another occasion, Jesus said it more clearly: “Judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24, emphasis added throughout).

 

            Next we will move on to Key No.2 - “Asking God for help”. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://lifehopeandtruth.com

 

THE ARMOR OF GOD: The Sword of the Spirit

The phrase “sword of the Spirit” is found only once in Scripture, in Ephesians 6:17. The sword is one of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to put on as part of the “full armor of God” that will enable us to stand our ground against evil ^{(Ephesians 6:13)}.

The sword is both an offensive and defensive weapon used by soldiers or warriors. In this case it is a weapon belonging to the Holy Spirit. Swords were used to protect oneself from harm or to attack the enemy to overcome or kill him. In both cases it was necessary for a soldier to get rigid training on the proper use of the sword to get maximum protection. All Christian soldiers need the same rigid training to know how to properly handle the Sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God.” The sword that Paul refers to here is the Holy Scriptures. We know from 2 Timothy 3:16–17 that the word of God is from the Holy Spirit and written by men. Since every Christian is in a spiritual battle with the satanic and evil forces of this world, we need to know how to handle the Word properly. Only then will it be an effective defense against evil, but it will also be an offensive weapon we use to “demolish strongholds” of error and falsehood ^{(2 Corinthians 10:4–5)}.

God refers to His Word as a sword in Hebrews 4:12. Here the Word is described as living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword. The Roman sword was commonly made in this manner. The fact that it had two edges made it easier to penetrate, as well as to cut in every way. The idea is that of piercing or penetrating; the Word of God reaches the “heart,” the very center of action, and lays open the motives and feelings of those it touches.

The purpose of the sword of the Spirit—the Bible—is to make us strong and able to withstand the evil onslaughts of Satan, our enemy ^{(Psalm 119:11, 33–40, 99–105)}. The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word to save souls and then to give them spiritual strength to be mature soldiers for the Lord in fighting this corrupt and evil world we live in. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls.

This concludes our study of the Armor of God. I hope you found it interesting and helpful in your walk with the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/sword-of-the-Spirit.html

 

THE ARMOR OF GOD: The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17 instructs us to put on the whole armor of God and to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” When a soldier suited up for battle, the helmet was the last piece of armor to go on. It was the final act of readiness in preparation for combat. A helmet was vital for survival, protecting the brain, the command station for the rest of the body. If the head was badly damaged, the rest of the armor would be of little use.

The assurance of salvation is our impenetrable defense against anything the enemy throws at us. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” ^{(Matthew 10:28)}. The idea in this verse is that, as we prepare for Satan’s attacks, we must grab that helmet and buckle it on tightly. Salvation is not limited to a one-time act of the past or even a future hope. God’s salvation is an ongoing, eternal state that His children enjoy in the present. It is daily protection and deliverance from our sin nature and Satan’s schemes.

Because of the power of the cross, our enemy no longer has any hold on us ^{(Romans 6:10; 8:2; 1 Corinthians 1:18)}. He knows that, but he also knows that most of God’s children do not know that—or, at least, they do not live as if they know. We must learn to keep our helmets buckled so that his fiery missiles do not lodge in our thoughts and set us on fire. Through this helmet of salvation, we can “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ” ^{(2 Corinthians 10:5)}.

There are several actions a believer can take to keep this helmet fastened and functioning:

 

1. Renew our minds. Our minds are battlefields. The outcomes of those battles determine the course of our lives. Romans 12:1–2 instructs us to renew our minds by allowing the truth of God’s Word to wipe out anything contrary to it. Old ideas, opinions, and worldviews must be replaced. We must allow God’s truth to continually wash away the world’s filth, lies, and confusion from our minds and adopt God’s perspective.

 

2. Reject doubts that arise from circumstances. Human beings are sensory creatures. What we cannot fathom with our five senses, we tend to disregard. If we allow them to, circumstances may convince us that God does not really love us or that His Word is not true. It is impossible to have faith and doubt at the same time. God rewards our faith. With the helmet of salvation firmly in place, we can choose to believe what appears impossible ^{(Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 1:8–9)}.

 

3. Keep an eternal perspective. When life crashes in around us, we must remember to look up. Our salvation is the most precious gift we have received. Keeping our eyes on that can help us weather life’s storms. We can choose to live our lives by the motto: “If it doesn’t have eternal significance, it’s not important” ^{(see Matthew 6:20; 1 Corinthians 3:11–13)}.

4. Remember that victory is already accomplished. When we consider ourselves “dead to sin but alive to God” ^{(Romans 6:11)}, we eliminate many of the opportunities Satan uses to entrap us. When choosing sin is no longer an option for us because we recognize ourselves to be “new creatures” ^{(2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:9)}, we effectively cut off many avenues of failure.

5. Find all our hope in Him. Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but You? Besides you, I desire nothing on earth.” Our helmet is most effective when we treasure what it represents. The salvation Jesus purchased for us cannot share the place of importance in our hearts with earthly things. When pleasing the Lord is our supreme delight, we eliminate many of Satan’s lures and render his evil suggestions powerless.

 

As we wear the helmet of salvation every day, our minds become more insulated against the suggestions, desires, and traps the enemy lays for us. We choose to guard our minds from excessive worldly influence and instead think on things that honor Christ ^{(Philippians 4:8)}. In doing so, we wear our salvation as a protective helmet that will “guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” ^{(Philippians 4:7; cf. Isaiah 26:3; 1 Peter 1:5)}.

Up next we take a look at the sword of the Spirit. It is the only offensive weapon we are given to combat evil forces. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/helmet-of-salvation.html. 

THE ARMOR OF GOD: The Shield of Faith

The shield of faith is part of the armor of God described in Ephesians 6:10–17. After summarizing the gospel and giving the Ephesians various instructions, Paul concludes his letter to them saying, in part, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” ^{(Ephesians 6:10–11)}. About the shield, Paul writes, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” ^{(verse 16)}. The ESV puts it this way: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”

The Roman shield of the time was called a ‘scutum’. This type of shield was as large as a door and would cover the warrior entirely. Such a shield was not just defensive but could also be used to push opponents. When fighting as a group, a phalanx* of soldiers could position their shields so as to form an enclosure around themselves, called a ‘testudo’ (“tortoise”). This was especially helpful to protect against arrows launched from the walls of cities they were attacking. Shields, often made of wood and then covered in hide, when wet, could extinguish flaming arrows.

Clearly, a shield is vitally important to a soldier. It provides a blanket of protection. It is meant to be taken up in all circumstances. It is the first barrier against the enemy’s attack. Often, shields were painted with identifying marks; a Christian who takes up the shield of faith identifies himself as a foot soldier who serves the Commander of the Lord’s army**.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Verse 6 stresses the importance of faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Satan’s attacks can sometimes cause us to doubt God. Faith prompts us to believe God. We give in to temptation when we believe what it has to offer is better than what God has promised. Faith reminds us that, though fulfillment of God’s promise may not be readily visible to us, God is true to His Word. When Satan attempts to plague us with doubt or entice us with instant gratification, faith recognizes the deceptiveness of his tactics and quickly extinguishes the arrows. When Satan accuses us, faith chooses to believe that Jesus has redeemed us and that there is no more condemnation ^{(Romans 8:1, 34; Revelation 12:10–12)}.

Faith is one of the greatest gifts ^{(1 Corinthians 13:13)}, and it is the means by which we receive grace and come into right relationship with God ^{(Ephesians 2:8–9)}. It is because we have been justified through faith that we belong to God and have peace with Him ^{(Romans 5:1)}. Faith is the doorway to hope in God ^{(Romans 5:2)}.  Because we have faith in God, our suffering need not faze us; in fact, we can persevere under it ^{(Romans 5:3–5)}. The things Satan attempts to use to discourage us can actually become tools in the hands of God.

All believers have this promise: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” ^{(1 John 5:4)}. Faith is a protective barrier between us and the schemes of Satan. When we believe God and take Him at His word, we remain grounded in truth, the lies of the enemy lose their power, and we become overcomers. In that way, faith is our shield.

Up next we will take a look at the Helmet of Salvation. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/shield-of-faith.html

* A formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears, developed by Philip II of Macedonia, and used by Alexander the Great.

** The commander of the army of the LORD is said to be an angel of the Lord.   The army of the Lord was an angelic host, whose presence would assure victory.

 

THE ARMOR OF GOD: “...feet fitted with the gospel of peace.”

 

Ephesians 6:11–17 instructs believers in Christ to “put on the whole armor of God” as a defense against Satan’s attacks. This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Verse 15 says, “And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” The New Living Translation words it this way: “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” The gospel of peace is the message that Jesus gave to those who trust in Him ^{(John 14:27; Romans 10:15)}. It comes with the assurance from God that we are His children, and nothing can snatch us out of His hands ^{(John 10:29; 1 John 5:13)}. It outlines clearly what is required to become a child of God ^{(1 Corinthians 15:1–6; John 1:12; Romans 10:8–10)}. Any other message is a false gospel.

The word ‘readiness’ implies constant vigilance. A victorious soldier had to be prepared for battle. He had to have studied his enemy’s strategy, be confident in his own strategy, and have his feet firmly planted so that he could hold his ground when the attacks came. A soldier’s battle shoes were studded with nails or spikes, like cleats, to help him keep his balance in combat. He knew that, if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter how great the rest of his armor was; the enemy had him. When we are ready with the gospel of peace, we live with the understanding that we are continually under attack from Satan. Second Timothy 4:2 says to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”

The “peace shoes” that God supplies His soldiers have two purposes: defensive and offensive. In order to defend ourselves against the “flaming arrows of the evil one” ^{(Ephesians 6:16)}, we must have confidence of our position in Christ. We must stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, regardless of how terrifying the circumstances may be ^{(1 John 5:14)}. We must understand grace without abusing it ^{(Romans 6:1–6)}, remember that our position in Christ is not based on our own abilities or worthiness ^{(Titus 3:5)}, and keep our belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness securely fastened ^{(2 Timothy 1:12)}.

When Satan attacks with a flaming missile of doubt, such as “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t have let this happen,” we dig our peace shoes into the turf of God’s Word and reply, “It is written: All things work together for the good to them who love God and are called according to His purpose” ^{(Romans 8:28)}. When Satan stabs from behind with “Remember what you did?” we dig in more deeply and reply, “It is written: If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” ^{(1 John 1:9)}.

In addition to standing our ground, shoes are also for moving. God expects us to go on the offensive and take the gospel of peace to others. First Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Sharing our faith is one of the best ways to maintain our own sure footing. God knows that, when we are active in speaking of Him to others, we not only charge into Satan’s territory, but we dig our shoes more deeply into truth and will be much harder to dislodge. When we have “studied to show ourselves approved unto God” ^{(2 Timothy 2:15)}, we are ready to stand firm in the gospel of peace no matter what the enemy brings against us ^{(2 Thessalonians 2:15).}

            Up next we’ll take a look at the shield of faith. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

THE ARMOR OF GOD: Breastplate of Righteousness

 

         Ephesians 6:11 challenges believers to “put on the whole armor of God” in order to stand firm against the attacks of our enemy, Satan ^{(2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:12)}. Verses 14 through 17 say, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

            The imagery is of an armed Roman or Israelite soldier, prepared for battle. A typical armed soldier wore a breastplate made of bronze or chain mail. It covered the vital organs, namely, the heart, and was fitted with loops or buckles that attached it to a thick belt. If the belt was loosened, the breastplate slipped right off.

When Paul compares the armor of God with military gear, each piece represents a part of God’s strength that He extends to us when we become His children. The breastplate of righteousness refers to the righteousness purchased for us by Jesus at the cross ^{(2 Corinthians 5:21)}. At salvation, a “breastplate” is issued to each repentant sinner. It is specially designed by God to protect our heart and soul from evil and deception. Our own righteous acts are no match for Satan’s attacks ^{(Isaiah 64:6)}. The breastplate of righteousness has Christ’s name stamped on it, as though He said, “Your righteousness isn’t sufficient to protect you. Wear mine.”

We are instructed to “put on” this armor, which implies that we do not automatically wear it all the time. Putting on the armor of God requires a decision on our part. To put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must first have the belt of truth firmly in place. Without truth, our righteousness will be based upon our own attempts to impress God. This leads to legalism or self-condemnation ^{(Romans 8:1)}. We choose instead to acknowledge that, apart from Him, we can do nothing ^{(John 15:5)}. We see ourselves as “in Christ” and that, regardless of our failures, His righteousness has been credited to our account.

We “put it on” by seeking God and His righteousness above everything else ^{(Matthew 6:33)}. We make Him and His ways our dwelling place ^{(Psalm 91:1)}. We delight in His commands and desire for His ways to become our ways ^{(Psalm 37:4; 119:24, 111; Isaiah 61:10)}. When God reveals an area of change to us, we obey and allow Him to work in us. At the point where we say “no” to God, we open a little crack in the armor where Satan’s arrows can get through ^{(Ephesians 6:16)}.

As we wear Christ’s breastplate of righteousness, we begin to develop a purity of heart that translates into actions. Wearing this breastplate creates a lifestyle of putting into practice what we believe in our hearts. As our lives become conformed to the image of Christ ^{(Romans 8:29)}, our choices become more righteous, and these godly choices also protect us from further temptation and deception ^{(Proverbs 8:20; Psalm 23:3)}.

When armor is abused or worn incorrectly, it can malfunction. Likewise, there are several factors that can interfere with the effectiveness of our spiritual breastplate. Carelessness ^{(1 Peter 5:8)}, unbelief ^{(Hebrews 3:12)}, abusing grace ^{(Romans 6:1–2)}, or disobedience ^{(1 John 3:4; Hebrews 4:6)} can hinder our ability to stand firm and defeat the enemy in our lives. When we tolerate sin, refuse to forgive ^{(2 Corinthians 2:10–11)}, rely on personal righteousness ^{(Titus 3:5)}, or allow earthly concerns to crowd out time for an intimate relationship with God, we, in effect, take off the breastplate of righteousness, minimizing its power to protect us.

We need our breastplate of righteousness in place in order to gain the victory specified in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” When we quickly reject heretical ideas, idolatry, and the “counsel of the ungodly” ^{(Psalm 1:1)} and instead “keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” ^{(Hebrews 12:2)}, we keep our breastplate securely fastened.

Up next we will take a look at “feet fitted with the Gospel of peace”. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/breastplate-of-righteousness.html

THE ARMOR OF GOD: The Belt of Truth

The belt of truth is the first piece of the “full armor of God” to be listed in Ephesians 6:10–17. The passage begins with a warning from the apostle Paul to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” This is the key to understanding the armor of God. All the pieces of the armor belong to God and come from Him. Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and salvation—all are gifts of God to His people for their defense. All except “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” ^{(verse 17)} which is the only offensive weapon mentioned. All are designed to help us “stand against the schemes of the devil” ^{(verse 11)}. The belt of truth is the first part of the armor listed because, without truth, we are lost, and the schemes of the devil will surely overpower us.

            It is fitting that the belt of truth is the first piece of the whole armor of God. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” ^{(John 14:6)}, and it is only through Him that we come to God. Therefore, truth is of the utmost importance in the life of a Christian. Without truth, the rest of the armor would be of no use to us because we would not have the Spirit of truth ^{(John 15:26)}.

            In referring to the whole armor of God, Paul invokes the image of a soldier ready for battle. The belt of a Roman soldier in Paul’s day was not a simple leather strap such as we wear today. It was a thick, heavy leather and metal band with a protective piece hanging down from the front of it. The belt held the soldier’s sword and other weapons. The belt of truth of the spiritual armor holds the sword of the Spirit, linking truth and the Word of God (cf. John 17:17). The Word of God is truth.

            Depending on the translation of Ephesians 6:14, we are to fasten the belt of truth around us ^(ISV), buckle the belt around our waists ^(NIV), gird our waists with truth ^(NKJV), or gird our loins with truth ^(NASB). No matter the wording, we are to actively lay hold of the truth and use it. The belt of truth is a crucial piece of defensive armor guarding our inmost being in the battle against the lies and deceptions of the enemy. Without an understanding of truth, we are left vulnerable to being “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14). The belt of truth protects us and prepares us for the battle that is part of every Christian’s life.

            Up next we will take a look at the “breastplate of righteousness”. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/belt-of-truth.html

ISV = International Standard Version

NIV = New International Version

NKJV = New King James Version

NASB = New American Standard Bible